A 4-year-old boy was killed when he fell off a farm tractor

[devildog1]

This accident is about 15 miles from where I live, sad story my prayers goes out to this family.
DeviDog

Boy dies in fall from tractor on Canajoharie,N.Y. farm

Sunday, March 10, 2013

CANAJOHARIE A 4-year-old boy was killed when he fell off a farm tractor his uncle was driving and was run over by the machine.

The Montgomery County Sheriff痴 Office responded to the scene on South Buel Road in Canajoharie around 3 p.m. Friday. An investigation revealed that the boy was the passenger and his uncle the driver of the tractor, deputies said. While the uncle was driving the tractor down the road, the boy lost his balance and fell, deputies said. The uncle unsuccessfully tried to catch him and the child was hit by one of the tractor's tires, deputies said.
The Montgomery County Coroner痴 Office pronounced the child dead at the scene.
Sheriff痴 investigators and state police conducted an accident reconstruction, and received help at the scene from Mid County EMS, the Canajoharie and Ames Fire departments, and county Emergency Management personnel.
At this time, the names of the victim and the tractor driver are not being released, deputies said.
DevilDog
A 4-year-old boy was killed when he fell off a farm tractor

 

[kebo]

This is really tragic because no 4yr old child has any business being allowed on a farm tractor. I am sure the uncle regrets his decision to ride the young boy on it now, but he will have to live with the result the rest of his life. Just awful for him and the child's family.

 

[creekbend]

I offer my Prayers for everyone affected by this tragedy.

 

[3v0]

It is sad. Rates right up there with rolling over while mowing on a side hill.

 

[CliffordK]

Where was he riding? On the seat? Standing on the running board?
It sounds like the situation was poorly controlled.

I doubt he would have fallen overboard had he been riding with the uncle on the seat, although it does restrict access to the controls, and can be distracting to have a youngster on the seat. Perhaps ok for the open field, but not where tight maneuvering is required.

One has to learn about heavy equipment sometime, but also to know that it isn't a "toy". And, of course, the adult should anticipate things that could go wrong before they happen.

I must have been 13 or so before we got our first tractor, and I know my father was always very careful with where we would ride on the equipment, and what we would be doing at the time. But, at that age, I think I was already driving it some.

 

[MBTRAC]

Regrettable & as sad as it is, the harsh reality is children (& anyone) as passengers have no place in/around the operating area of a tractor - if there aren't passenger seats, seat belts & an enclosed cab it should be a no brainer.

I never understand how anyone can value (for the child) the fun of a few minutes riding on a tractor over the high risk of serious injury or potential loss of life.

These tragedies happen far too often - unfortunately farm machinery is very unforgiving for those who don't appreciate/respond to associated risks.

IMO, as an operator of machinery you accept accountability for the safe use of that machinery.

 

[TripleR]

Very sad indeed.

 

[jerrybob]

Tragic....my thoughts go out to all involved. I am sure the uncle regrets his mistake but what a terrible thing to live with. Hopefully.....this accident will prevent others from doing something similar.

 

[love2farm]

Prayers and thoughts go out to this family. What a terrible accident.

 

[MHarryE]

My great-nephew thinks I'm a nasty guy because I won't let him ride in the tractor cab with me like his grandpa does. None of my brother-in-laws cabs have a full complement of windows and no buddy seat. Of course I always did it when I was a kid - my cousin or I would ride out to the fields on our old Farmalls, one hand holding the light bar and the other the seat edge while standing on the axle housing and platform (transmission cover). Now I cringe thinking about it. The only serious accident I had during those growing up years was a thumb massed in a PTO shaft but there were so many close calls.

 

[adirondackmtnman]

Regrettable & as sad as it is, the harsh reality is children (& anyone) as passengers have no place in/around the operating area of a tractor - if there aren't passenger seats, seat belts & an enclosed cab it should be a no brainer.

I never understand how anyone can value (for the child) the fun of a few minutes riding on a tractor over the high risk of serious injury or potential loss of life.

These tragedies happen far too often - unfortunately farm machinery is very unforgiving for those who don't appreciate/respond to associated risks.

IMO, as an operator of machinery you accept accountability for the safe use of that machinery.

We have a lot of people who stop by with kids and want me to 'take them for a ride' on the tractor. I always flatly refuse this request. I find that many people view a tractor as a toy...It's my opinion that a child should always be kept a safe distance from any piece of equipment, and should only be brought to look at the equipment by an adult familiar with said machinery. My view is, that if one person allows them to interact with the equipment, they potentially could assume that ANY equipment is safe to approach, leading to disastrous results. The kids might have a little disappointment in not being able to see it or ride it at that moment, but at least they'll be around to learn how to use it for it's intended purpose later on down the road.

 

[PeterK]

I still see 'old Grandpa' riding his precious cargo on his knee while he uses one hand to drive the riding lawn mower around. It's a totally preventable incident which I wouldn't even call an accident because it is SO preventable. I've even see kids in the FEL and heard of stories where they fell or tried to sneak out and get caught up in the machinery. It's an awful way to go.

Share this story with all of your friends, every time it happens again. Very sad.

 

[kevin37b]

I was 6 yrs old in 1965 and kept out of school to farm . No fenders , power steering , nothing .

 

[JBourquin]

I'm about 10min outside Canajoharie. This is a very tragic accident. But saying that, I can't blame the uncle. I practically grew up on the fender of a tractor. Started driving on my own before the age of 10.

 

[3v0]

As kids we were never allowed to ride along till the tractors got cabs.
My uncle lost an arm to a PTO shaft and a neighbor rolled a tractor while mowing.
I expect these made the dangers real to my father.

I guess it is a mater of people thinking it will never happen to them.